Wednesday 18th March, 2009 The other side Unbeaten England reach of Sanga by Asoka Goonetilleke first final in 16 years Kumar Sangakkara’s rise in Sri Lankan cricket ranks is truly remark- New Zealand stays on course for final showdown against England able. An old boy of Trinity College, Kandy, Sangakkara wasn’t the most England sealed a place in its naturally gifted player, but through first World Cup final in 16 years when it extended its unbeaten sheer hard work he had a remarkable run at this tournament to five rise to the top and this month was matches by defeating the West named as Mahela Jayawardene’s suc- Indies by 146 runs, while New cessor as the captain of the national Zealand stayed on course for a cricket team. The 31 year-old law stu- final showdown with Charlotte dent is a ferocious reader and one of Edwards’s side when it over- the smart sledgers in world cricket. For powered India by five wickets in the penultimate matches in the a player who claims that he couldn’t Super Six stage of the ICC drive straight and didn’t possess shots Women’s World Cup 2009 on on the on-side when he started his Tuesday. international career in 2000, At the Drummoyne Oval, Sangakkara has gone onto post six dou- England openers Sarah Taylor ble hundreds, only behind Sir Don (78) and Caroline Atkins (50) Bradman, Walter Hammond and Brian Kumar Sangakkara featured in a 134-run first wick- et partnership before Claire Lara. A: Yes of course. It is very impor- Taylor (65) rescued her side The captain appointed spoke to tant to grow up. They must get involved from a middle-order collapse as Asoka Goonetilleke, the Associate in sport anywhere at any given time. the two-time former champion Editor of our sister newspaper Q: What will you do when you reached an imposing 236-8 in 50 ‘Divaina.’ retire? overs. Here are the excerpts. A: I don’t know. I’ve to think about Off-spinner Laura Marsh Q: What’s running in your mind it. Life is not all about cricket. Easy life then took 3-17 as the West Indies was bowled out for 90 in 38.2 right now? begins when you retire. overs, with Shanel Daly unable A: Get back to the cricket mentally Q: Lahore 3/3 is a phobia? to bat due to illness. New Zealand’s batters Suzie Bates, left, and Nicola Browne celebrate their victory over India during their and physically. Some players are ok A: No. Not at all. At the North Sydney Oval, Super Six World Cup Cricket match at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney, Tuesday, March 17, 2009. New now. Some are tough characters. Got to Q: What non sporting figure do New Zealand rode on an excel- Zealand reached 210 runs in the 48th over to defeat India. (AP) be careful about how you approach the you admire most? lent 71 by player-of-the- ricane 65 that came off 56 score after it had slipped to 153- game. The second thing is player devel- A: Nelson Mandella, Oscar Wild match Kate Pulford and a balls. 7. Malhotra clubbed eight fours opment. I have to make sure that they and all those generals fighting and who priceless 47 not out by However, it was player- in a 53-ball 59 not out. Suzie Bates to achieve the understand their responsibilities and fought in wars. of-the-match Sarah Taylor New Zealand, in its run- strategy. Q: What is your favourite TV victory target of 208 runs and Caroline Atkins who chase, took advantage of Q: Who inspired you to take up programme? with five wickets and 15 provided England with India’s sloppy bowling and balls to spare which made another positive start. fielding performance to achieve cricket? A: Commodies! it the first side in the tour- Taylor, the 19-year-old the victory target of 208 with A: My father. He was a brilliant Q: What food or drink do you nament to score over 200 Londoner, was the first five wickets and 15 balls to cricketer and a hockey player in his avoid? runs in the second innings batter to be dismissed in spare. hey days. Turned out for St. Anthony’s, A: I like going places and trying to win a match. England’s innings when Kate Pulford and Suzie Bates While England is guar- Kandy. Also, D. H. de Silva (now in dishes. But, nothing to beat rice and she was run-out for a fine were the stars of New Zealand’s Australia), Bertie Wijesinghe, Sunil curry. anteed a place in the 22 78 that came off 101 balls well calculated run-chase. Fernando and Bernard Perera. I was 12 Q: What is the pinnacle of your March final after collecting and included seven fours. Pulford shifted gears at the maximum points, New Atkins joined Taylor in right time and finished with an years when I first held the bat. sporting achievement to date? Zealand now has six points the dressing room three excellent 71 off 88 balls that Q: Which player in your sport do A: Not yet. It is still not significant and can set up a repeat of balls later when she included 10 fours. Together you admire most? either. I have to improve a lot. 1993 World Cup final at became one of the three with captain Haidee Tiffen (23), A: Sir Don Bradman, Sir Viv Q: Are today’s sportsman over Lord’s against England if Shanel Daley victims after Pulford put on 78 runs for the it beats Pakistan on Richards, Mike Brearly, Arjuna paid? scoring 50 from 95 balls first wicket which was a crucial Ranatunge, Marvan Atapattu, A: I do not think so. The major Thursday at Drummoyne. with three fours. When partnership in the context of Aravinda de Silva, Brian Lara, Sachin aspect is the sacrifice we make. We are And if it manages to do Atkins reached 49, she the match. this, defending champion became only the 11th After Pulford’s departure, Tendulkar. paid for the risks we undertake to Australia will be knocked Englishwoman to score Bates took the responsibility of Q: What about in other sport? entertain people. However in an inter- out of the final race and 1,000 or more ODI runs carrying her team through by A: Roger Federer, Michael national context, we are still at a low instead will be left to play after Charlotte Edwards returning unbeaten on 47 that Schumacher, Ayerton Senna, Tiger level (payments). in the third-fourth place-off (3,639), Claire Taylor came off 65 balls and included against India on 21 March Woods and of course Susanthika Q: What car do you drive? (3,541), Janette Brittin three fours. Jayasinghe. A: I have two vehicles. One is a jeep. at the Bankstown Oval. (2,121), Laura Newton Australia’s only chance (1,324), Barbara Daniels Scores in brief: Q: What other sport do you play? The other is a Malaysian Kelisa. ly but certainly not impossible. of reaching the final is if it (1,309), Sarah Taylor (1,244), England vs West Indies A: Tennis, golf, badminton. Q: How would you like to be At Drummoyne, England beats England on Thursday and Arran Brindle (1,176), Clare England 236-8 (50) Q: The last book you bought? remembered? showed its class in an excellent also hope that eighth-ranked Connor (1,087), Carole Hodges Sarah Taylor 78, Claire A: Golfers Mind, by Bob Rotella. A: A cricketer who tried to do his all-round performance, even Pakistan turns the table on New (1,073) and Jane Smit (1,003). Taylor 65, Caroline Atkins 50; though it collapsed from 134-0 to Q: What was the last film you best and the way friends know me as a Zealand. This scenario will put West Indies, in its run-chase, Shanel Daley 3-31 178-5 and then from 204-5 to 225- saw? normal friend. both Australia and New never threatened England and West Indies 90 all out (38.2) 8. However, Claire Taylor A: So many. Cannot remember. Q: What else... a message to the Zealand on even points and on was finally bowled out for 90 in Deandra Dottin 23; Laura brought all her experience into equal wins which will bring the 38.2 overs . Marsh 3-17 Q: When did you realise you cricket fans? play and held the middle-order net run-rate into play. At the North Sydney Oval, New Zealand vs India were going to make cricket your A: Yes. Indeed. Thank you for all the innings together to help India can also come into the India batted first after winning India 207 all out (49.4) career? support extended to us in our joy and England reach the fourth high- equation if it beats the West the toss and despite opener Reema Malhotra 59*, Anjum A: When I got selected to the nation- sorrow. It was so touching to see the est score of the tournament so Indies by a convincing margin Anjum Chopra’s 18th ODI Chopra 52, Mithali Raj 21; far. al squad in 2000. Even then, I was not a response we got after 3/3 at Lahore. and both Australia and New career half-century managed Sophie Devine 2-35, Kate Claire Taylor, the top-ranked brilliant cricketer. Therefore, I decided People were with us. We will never for- Zealand lose their last matches only 207 all out in 49.4 overs.